Josh Garofalo MKT 353

One of the key takeaways for me was the importance of understanding your target audience and aligning your content, branding, and marketing efforts around their needs and behaviors. The social media planning template from the video was especially helpful; it broke down the process of researching competitors, setting realistic goals, and creating content buckets to stay organized and consistent. I also found the discussions valuable, particularly the insights about using platforms like LinkedIn or TikTok creatively, depending on your audience. In my case with Mana Mats, it pushed me to think beyond Instagram and consider how platforms like TikTok or YouTube could help build community and drive traffic. 

This week’s lessons helped me better understand how crucial a well-optimized landing page is in running a successful online business. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the importance of aligning your ad copy with your landing page content. If you promise “free shipping” or “100% satisfaction guaranteed” in your ad, that promise should be clearly visible when the user lands on your site. Otherwise, you risk losing trust and conversions. I also learned that conversion rate optimization doesn’t require massive changes. Sometimes, small tweaks like adding a testimonial, pre-populating a form field, or placing trust icons near your call-to-action button can make a big difference. The videos and readings reminded me that you only have a few seconds to grab a visitor’s attention, so clarity and consistency are essential. As I think about future business ideas, I now understand how much success depends not just on your product, but on how you present it online.

The focus on tracking ROI and setting up conversion tracking helped me understand more as I look at advertising. It’s not just about throwing money at Google Ads and hoping it works. It’s about knowing what actions are driving results and whether they’re worth the cost. I applied this to my business, Mana Mats, by setting up Google Ads conversion tracking through Squarespace. It was a bit technical, but I learned how important it is to accurately define and measure a conversion. Without that, I’d be spending money blindly. I also appreciated this week's emphasis on testing and refining campaigns based on actual data. As I continue to build Mana Mats, I want to rely more on performance data rather than just instinct.  This week, I didn't see as much success in the website as I have seen in other weeks, but I hope that these new Google ads will get some traffic. 

This week, I learned a lot about how Google Ads work, especially how important it is to have your keywords, ad copy, and landing pages all aligned. Before this, I thought Quality Score was just another performance metric, but now I understand it’s more of a tool to help you figure out what to fix. I didn’t realize how much things like ad relevance and expected clickthrough rate could affect how well your ad performs, even if your budget is solid. One thing that really stood out was how small tweaks, like changing a headline to match the exact keyword or improving how fast your landing page loads, can make a big difference. I can see how this applies directly to running a successful online business. If your ads don’t feel relevant or your site doesn’t deliver what people expect, they’re just going to click off the site. It’s all about creating a smooth and helpful experience for the user.

This week, I learned how important it is to follow Google Ads policies and create ad content that’s both clear and compliant. At first, I didn’t realize how strict some of the guidelines are, but after reading through them, it made sense; they’re there to protect users and maintain trust. I reviewed my ad for Mana Mats and made small but meaningful changes, like avoiding exaggerated claims and making sure everything I say accurately reflects what I offer. I also learned about keyword insertion and how including search-relevant terms in your headlines or descriptions can make your ads more effective. Even though I didn’t use dynamic keyword insertion yet, I made sure to rewrite my ad in a way that includes common search phrases like “custom MTG playmats.” This not only improves visibility but also increases the chances of reaching the right audience. Overall, I feel more confident in setting up compliant, effective Google Ads.

One of the biggest takeaways I learned from this week's activities was how critical keyword research is for driving traffic through tools like Google Ads. It’s not just about describing your product; it’s about understanding how people search and aligning your ads with their intent. I learned that using a mix of broad, phrase, and exact match keywords can help attract both general interest and high-intent buyers. Another insight was how ad settings like location, devices, and budget play a role in campaign success. For example, limiting ads to the U.S. makes sense for a business like mine, Mana Mats, because it keeps shipping simple. Choosing automated bidding also seems smart when you’re still learning. Overall, I’ve realized that behind every strong product is a strong strategy, and this week helped me start building that foundation for my business.